Canada vs. United States Finals Prediction: Olympic Women’s Hockey Odds

Canada and the United States are familiar foes, having faced each other in every gold medal game save one since 2006, when the sport made it’s Olympic debut. In 2006, it was Sweden that made it to the final game against Canada after beating the Americans in the semifinals. The Canadians went on to beat the Swedes that year.

Canada vs. United States Olympic Gold Medal Game Odds

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To earn their place in the Olympic final, Team Canada dispatched Switzerland on Monday, 10-3. The United States had to face Finland in their semifinal matchup, and took them down 4-1 to set up the inevitable gold medal battle with their greatest rival.

On the odds board, Canada is the favorite to win this year, after a preliminary matchup with the U.S. ended with a 4-2 Canadian victory.

Team Canada

Canada surprised no one on Monday, defeating the Swiss team 10-3 to stamp their ticket to the gold medal game on Wednesday. Canada outshot Switzerland 61-13, and their ten goals in that game helped them set a new Olympic record of 54 goals so far in the tournament.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice, and Brianne Jenner, Renata Fast, Claire Thompson, Jamie Lee Rattray, Blayre Turnbull, Erin Ambrose, Emily Clark and Emma Maltais each scored for the Canadians. Sarah Nurse and Rebecca Johnston had four and three assists, respectively. Netminder Ann-Renée Desbiens wasn’t that busy in the Canadian end, but made ten saves in the win.

Fans were thrilled to see the return of forward Mélodie Daoust in the semifinal. Daoust was injured in the preliminary round game against Switzerland.

Team Canada Roster

Goaltenders: Kristen Campbell (Brandon, Man.), Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que.) and Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta.)

• Defence: Erin Ambrose (Keswick, Ont.), Ashton Bell (Deloraine, Man./University of Minnesota Duluth, WCHA), Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont.), Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man.), Ella Shelton (Ingersoll, Ont.), Claire Thompson (Toronto, Ont.) and Micah Zandee-Hart (Saanichton, B.C.)

• Forwards: Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask.), Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que.),Sarah Fillier (Georgetown, Ont./Princeton University, ECAC), Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont.), Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont.), Emma Maltais (Burlington, Ont./Ohio State University, WCHA), Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont.), Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que.), Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, Ont.), Jill Saulnier (Halifax, N.S.), Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont.), Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont.) and Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, N.S.)

Team USA

Team USA defeated Finland 4-1 on Monday to earn their spot in the gold medal game later this week. They outshot the Fins 42-26. Hilary Knight had a goal and assist while netminder Alex Cavallini stopped 25 shots.

The American team hasn’t looked as lethal as the Canadians in this tournament, and they’re just fifth amongst ten teams in scoring efficiency with only 24 goals on 292 shots. Their power play has also struggled through these Olympics, scoring on just five of 24 extra player chances.

It hasn’t helped that the Americans lost one of their best players in their opening game against Finland, when Brianna Decker broke her leg during the 5-2 U.S. victory.

Canada vs. United States Gold Medal Game Score Prediction

Canada  4

USA 3